Abhishek Sharma's IPL performance will help him play for India, says Aiden Markram

Aiden Markram hailed his SRH teammate Abhishek Sharma's batting for the team in IPL 2024. Markram also suggested that Abhishek is not far away from getting a call-up from the Indian team after his stellar show this season. SRH will look to strengthen their playoff chances as they face GT at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on May 16, Thursday.

While speaking to PTI, Markram felt that Abhishek's destructive form in the cash-rich league will soon fetch him and India cap. He was all praises for Abhishek's rise in IPL for SRH.

"Abhi (Abhishek) has made massive strides this season. He was showing some really positive signs in the previous seasons and what he's achieved so far this season puts him in good stead for hopefully representing India one day," Markram said. IPL 2024 Full Coverage | IPL 2024 Points Table and Standings | 2024 IPL Full Schedule

WILL ABHISHEK GET INDIA CALL-UP?

The explosive batter from Punjab was roped in by SRH in 2019 and went onto repay the years of trust showcased in him by the franchise. In IPL 2024, Abhishek was promoted back to the opener's slot and the left-handed batter has managed to score 401 runs in 12 matches at a staggering strike rate of 205.64.

The former SRH captain and South Africa's skipper, Markram, was hopeful of Abhishek reaping rewards by playing at a higher level for his country.

"He's got a very calm and level head on his shoulders and he'll take everything in his stride. But my fingers are certainly crossed for him to go to higher honours," Markram added.

HEAD AND ABHISHEK: BROTHERS OF DESTRUCTION

Abhishek has been turning heads with his performance this season as he has showcased an ultra-aggressive approach at the top. The experts and Experts have also backed the 23-year-old to make his India debut soon.

Markram also reflected on Abhishek's partner in crime, Travis Head, and called the opening duo as brothers of destruction.

"You probably could say brothers of destruction. They have been smoking it and it has been great to watch from the sidelines. It has been fantastic for us as a team for them to get us off to the kind of starts that they have. Allow the rest of the batting unit to continue with that aggressive mode," Markram said.

Head and Abhishek shattered all the records when they took on LSG in their last encounter. The duo chased down 166 runs within 9.4 overs. The openers made light work of the chase as they scored the highest ever total in the first 10 overs in T20 cricket.

In 11 innings so far, the duo have collectively scored 676 runs with 3 hundred-plus and 2 fifty-plus run stands.